#AcademicRunPlaylist - 1/22/25

A screenshot of me on a CNBC stage with the Nasdaq logo in white on the right. At the bottom it says Dr. Ben Waber Visiting Scientist at MIT and Author of People Analytics. I'm a bald, middle-aged, white man with a red beard flecked with white. I'm wearing glasses with a metal top rim and a dark blue suit jacket over a white dress shirt.

I had a great time in NYC discussing AI, AI hype, and management with George LaRocque and Cliff Jurkiewicz on Jill Malandrino's TradeTalks program (you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU_gLosBv_s), and on the train I was also able to listen to talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist!

First was an interesting conversation with Tim Dobermann and Francesco Caselli reflecting on their 2018 predictions around development policy and the future of the space on the VoxDev podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VItbcfgZ3wA

Next was a lively discussion between friends of the playlist Ann Lipton and Michael Levin on the ERISA case against American Airlines (I'm pretty sure I could hear Lipton's head exploding when discussing the initial decision) and the role and utility of the National Association of Corporate Directors on the Shareholder Primacy podcast. Highly recommend https://youtu.be/gZCby01xdvo?si=QVeCjaTFm69_Xg7_

Last was "Railroaded" by Richard White. This book immediately makes it clear that the transcontinental railroads that sprang up across the US in the late 1800s were colossal failures. White examines the multi-faceted history of these railroads with sections on their politics, economics, entrepreneurs, workers, and impacted industries. What emerges is a shockingly modern picture - a litter of failed companies that enriched a small number of entrepreneurs through their systematic exploitation of the public coffers, workers, and dependent industries. This history urges us to consider other choices that can be made about deploying new technologies around how they're funded, what risks the public takes, and what evidence is needed before assuming that disruption or new technology is actually a long term societal positive. Highly recommend https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393342376